resign

[ri-zahyn]

verb (used without object)

1. to give up an office or position, often formally (often followed byfrom ).

   to resign from the presidency.

   Synonyms: withdraw

2. to submit; yield.

   to resign before the inevitable.

verb (used with object)

1. to give up (an office, position, etc.), often formally.

   Synonyms: leave, quit, renounce, abdicate

2. to relinquish (a right, claim, agreement, etc.).

   Synonyms: cede, surrender, give up, forgo

3. to give or sign over, as to the control or care of another.

   She resigned her child to an adoption agency.

4. to submit (oneself, one's mind, etc.) without resistance.

resign

/ rɪˈzaɪn /

verb

1. to give up tenure of (a job, office, etc)

2. (tr) to reconcile (oneself) to; yield

   to resign oneself to death

3. (tr) to give up (a right, claim, etc); relinquish

   he resigned his claim to the throne

Other Word Forms

• resigner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resign¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resignen, from Middle French resigner, from Latin resignāre “to open, release, cancel,” literally, “to seal back,” from re- re- + signāre “to mark, seal” ( sign )

Word History and Origins

Origin of resign¹

C14: from Old French resigner , from Latin resignāre to unseal, invalidate, destroy, from _re- + signāre to seal; see _sign

Example Sentences

The AfD politician resigned from his seat in the European Parliament earlier this year after he was elected to the Bundestag in February, when he ran for election in the eastern state of Saxony.

From BBC

Beard's last role was at Burnley, where he resigned in June after just two months in charge.

From BBC

"We needed the money two weeks ago," he said, claiming he had already seen colleagues resign to seek alternative work.

From BBC

It will be Reed's first major speech since he took over from Angela Rayner as housing secretary, after she resigned for failing to pay enough tax on a flat purchase.

From BBC

After Bedoya resigned from the case in June to seek other employment, Slaughter was left to carry on with the suit alone.

From Salon

When To Use

What does resign mean?

Resign most commonly means to give up one’s job or position.When used this way, resign can be used without an object, as in He resigned yesterday, or with one, as in She is expected to resign her position. In its general sense, resign means to yield or submit, as in When he knew he couldn’t possibly win the match, he decided to resign. Example: They say he resigned on his own, but I think he was forced out.